Complication of head and neck cancer: Carotid blowout syndrome.

Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the spontaneous or traumatic rupture of the carotid artery in the neck. Oftentimes, CBS is due a loss of structural arterial integrity from local radiotherapy or surgical procedures. A vast majority of patients who develop CBS also have a previous diagnosis of head and neck cancer. Due to the specific patient population who develop CBS and its life-threatening nature, CBS should be a part of emergency physicians differential for those who present with a chronic neck wound or neurological symptoms in those with a previous head and neck cancer diagnosis. In this case report, a patient with a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx who was treated with chemoradiation therapy, presented to the emergency department with spontaneous bleeding from an existing chronic wound on the left lateral neck. Conservative measures were taken including wound dressing, and the patient was discharged to see dermatology for biopsy of a suspected cancerous lesion. Once the chronic lesion was biopsied, the patient had to be immediately rushed to the operating room due to a brisk pulsatile bleeding from puncturing the carotid artery. Proper wound packing and an ultrasound of the neck for a proper diagnosis may have prevented the need for surgical intervention in this case. Although CBS is not common, complications can lead to death as seen in this case. Timely recognition and proper interventions are critical for preventing potentially fatal outcomes in those with CBS.